Despite the theoretical problems of the water spirometer and its poor frequency response, the water spirometer is adequate for the physiological function tests even in healthy people. We must encourage the use of the spirometer as part of routine examination of nearly all adult patients.
Recently, pulmonary function studies are widely used in evaluation of various physical condition.
The aim of this study was to report the pulmonary function studies of young athletes. Subjects were 221 young athletes from 11 to 17 years of age. They were elementary school boys and girls, middle school boys and girls, high school boys and girls.
The following were mainly observed for the study ; frequency of breath, vital capacity, tidal volume, and breath holding time.
The results obtained were summarized as follow;
1. Frequency of breath; (cycle/min. M±SD) Elementary school boys show 18±5.5, elementary school girls 19±5.0, middle school boys 17±2.3, middle school girls 17±3.0, high school boys 15±6.5, high school giris 15±5.7.
2. Vital capacity; (e,M±SD) Elementary school boys show 1.63±0.138, elementary school girls 1.60±0.241, middle school boys 3.08±0.650, middle school girls 2.79±0.562, high school boys 4.24±0.545, high school girls 2.90±0.792,
3. Tidal volume; (㎖, M±SD) Elementary school boys show 393±40.7, elementary school girls 439±108, middle school boys 599±103, middle school girls 508±78.6, high school boys 727±113, high school girls 618±84.
4. Breath holding time; (sec, M±SD) Elementary school boys show 43±15.5, elementary school girls 45±15.4, middle school boys 53±9.7, middle school girls 46±9.4, high school boys 57±12.9, high school girls 45±10.1.
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